Volunteer Perception of Learning and Satisfaction in a Mega-Event: The Case of the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer

Volunteers' performance is a central success factor for many mega-events. This article focuses on volunteers' learning and satisfaction during the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. The 50 students in the sample report an overall satisfaction with their participation. Important variables that were discovered related to volunteers' satisfaction include personal network, participation in the celebratory atmosphere, job-related competence, welfare issues, and job characteristics. With regard to volunteers' learning, they experienced increased social skills, job-specific competence, and knowledge about society. The results from this exploratory study clearly show the need for further research on volunteer management at mega-events.